After a poor performance in the debate by President Biden, alarms of his mental sharpness are being called out from the media, donors, his own political party, and more.
Despite Biden not having gone to a neurologist, he had an annual physical in February that included cognitive testing per Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s physician. Dr. O’Connor also confirmed in a July 8 statement from the White House that his neurological symptoms were not associated with any infection, as had been suggested by some observers.
In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC News, Biden also gave a noncommittal answer when asked about any official cognitive assessment, saying “I have a cognitive test every single day” in regards to his job as President of the United States.
Nevertheless, many Americans want more answers.
“I am writing today to request that you urge President Biden, in the strongest possible terms, to take a cognitive and neurological exam and to share the results with the American people,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wrote to Dr. O’Connor on July 12.
And even the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) provides a neutral rating for screening tests to identify cognitive impairment in older adults based on insufficient evidence.
Fox News Digital spoke with top neurologists to break down how cognitive assessments operate and what they can – or cannot – do.
“Cognitive tests are designed to measure a range of mental functions and abilities, targeting specific areas such as memory, attention and concentration, language and processing speed,” Dr. Fred Cohen, assistant professor of medicine and neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, told Fox News Digital.
“The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and neuropsychological testing are all important tools doctors and neuropsychologists can employ to assess a person’s behavior and thinking ability,” Dr. Michael S. Okun, medical adviser for the Parkinson’s Foundation and director of the Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at University of Florida Health, told Fox News Digital.
Despite persistent calls for Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race, he’s insisted that he will continue and beat Trump this November.
